Modifying the /etc/passwd File

To configure a dial-in server, you must also edit the /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow files.

You must add entries to the /etc/passwd file on the dial-in server for each user on a remote host authorized to log in to the server. When a remote host calls the dial-in server, it reads its UUCP databases and passes the server a user name or user ID for the host initiating the call. The server then verifies this user information in its /etc/passwd file.

If the user's password is authenticated, the server then logs the user in to a special shell for PPP hosts, /usr/sbin/aspppls. The server gets this information from the login shell entry in its /etc/passwd file. Using the example in Figure 23-1, dial-in server nubian might have the following entries in its /etc/passwd file:

root:x:0:1:Super-User:/:/sbin/sh
daemon:x:1:1::/:
bin:x:2:2::/usr/bin:
sys:x:3:3::/:
adm:x:4:4:Admin:/var/adm:
lp:x:71:8:Line Printer Admin:/usr/spool/lp:
uucp:x:5:5:uucp Admin:/usr/lib/uucp:
nuucp:x:9:9:uucp Admin:/var/spool/uucppublic:/usr/lib/uucp/uucico
listen:x:37:4:Network Admin:/usr/net/nls:
nomada:x:121:99:R. Burton:/:/usr/sbin/aspppls
nomadb:x:122:99:T. Sherpa:/:/usr/sbin/aspppls
nomadc:x:123:99:S. Scarlett:/:/usr/sbin/aspppls

Refer to System Administration Guide, Volume 1 for information about the /etc/passwd file.

In addition to the information in the /etc/passwd file, you update the /etc/shadow file with the passwords for the login names used by each endpoint machine permitted to dial in to the server. For more information, refer to System Administration Guide, Volume 1.